A Harrogate business is backing three men who are embarking on a 15,000 mile trek in aid of Ukraine.
Daniel Patton, 22, Joe Fisher, 23 and Callum Kitson, 22, who are from New Zealand but have Harrogate connections, are driving from Orkney Isles in Scotland to India in a small hatchback car.
The journey forms part of the Mongol Rally, which challenges drivers to take a 1.3 litre vehicle on a trek in aid of charity.
The trio, who call themselves The Kiwis Don’t Fly Rally Team, are raising money for the DEC Ukraine appeal.
They stopped at the Royal Pump Room Museum in Harrogate on Tuesday as part of the first phase of their journey.
Ethical Team, a PR company based at the Grosvenor Buildings on Crescent Road, has backed the effort.
Iain Patton, director of Ethical Team, said:
“It’s incredible how the plight of Ukraine has garnered support from young people all around the world.
“It’s inspiring how ‘Kiwis Don’t Fly’ want to do everything in their power to make a difference and show solidarity with Ukrainians in such difficult times.”
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The men said they were embarking on the mammoth trek to raise money amid the Ukraine war.
They said:
“We have dedicated over two years of research to this adventure, and when the opportunity came up to participate in an expedition organised by The Adventurists along the way we couldn’t say no.
“We happen to think our charity of choice is a pretty special too.”
The first leg of their journey will see the trio head from John o’ Groats to Georgia.
After this, they will navigate south on their own from Georgia through Azerbaijan, Iran, and Pakistan to reach their destination in the south of India.
You can donate to the trio at their JustGiving page here.
Ripon Library hosts a colourful Holi celebrationWith perfect timing, yesterday’s bright sunshine marked the start of Holi and saw a celebratory event at Ripon Library.
The Hindu festival signals the arrival of spring — focusing on love, new life and reconciliation.
Following the Diwali celebration staged at the library in November, Sarita McDermott, owner of the Realitea Indian bistro and tearoom on North Street, brought an insight into the culture of her native country.
Supported, once more, by a team of dancers from Jennyruth Workshops and the library’s outreach librarian Claire Thompson, the event provided an authentic taste of Indian culture, through readings, music, dancing and food.
Ms. McDermott, told the audience:
“Holi is all about making a fresh start, forgiving and forgetting, loving and looking forward, as we leave the cold winter weather behind us and enjoy the spring and sunshine.”
Part of the Holi Festival celebrations involve coating people with brightly-coloured powder paint. Picture: BBC
The festival features dancing, singing and, at some locations (though not Ripon Library), the throwing of powder paint and coloured water, in celebration of the Hindu god Krishna and the legend of Holika and Prahlad.
Ms Thompson, who gave a reading about Holi, told the Stray Ferret:
“It’s a pleasure for the library to hold brilliant events such as this, which enable people, particularly children, to learn about different cultures and how festivals are celebrated in other countries, just as we celebrate Easter and Christmas in this country.”
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This article is sponsored by Deliveree
Stray Foodie reviews are brought to you by Deliveree, and written by Michelin-starred chef Frances Atkins. Frances independently chooses which restaurants she will visit. This month, Frances visits Cardamom Black in central Harrogate.
Having spent four consecutive years in India cooking with some of the world’s greatest chefs at sophisticated dinners for charity, I came to marvel at the joy of their cuisine.
The combination of texture, colour and warmth is unique. Personally, I tend to err away from very hot and spicy foods, having considered them in the past to kill flavour. I have been wrong. It is all about technique and I would go so far as to say there isn’t another country that produces such flavour in their food made from very little.
So it was with great pleasure that I dined at Cardamom Black in Harrogate with friends. I was at first in awe of the size of the menu! Suitable for everyman’s palate but hard to execute, but they did it.
Whether you want a quick curry after a good night out, British style or you are wanting a more academic supper, it is there for the asking. Being into the creation of Vegan and Vegetarian food at the moment I decided to go with their sensational platter of vegetables. Stuffed, fried and unique – all my party had a great time sampling these delicacies.
My friends had two chicken dishes, one mild and one hot, they were very different and once again all down to the seasoning. The preparation of the rice to accompany them was sensational. One with Lime and Coriander and one with Tamarind. Beautiful flavour. The only slight difficulty I might have had was getting all these flavours together to compliment the chosen dish. It took some degree of concentration. Having said that, the true Indian style of service was friendly and informative and made you feel at ease.
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I listened to another guest on the night we were there who boasted he had tried every dish on the menu! He must have been going there for a very long time and he was a very happy man! 
Like all my Indian experiences, Cardamom Black reflects colour, warmth and happiness.
Well worth a visit. All taking place in a converted Methodist Church and theatre. It certainly takes central stage in Harrogate.
Star Rating: 4. This is a place to watch!
Stray Foodie reviews are written by Michelin-starred chef, Frances Atkins. In 1997, Frances opened the Yorke Arms near Pateley Bridge, where she was the owner for 20 years. During her ownership, she held her Michelin-star status for 16 of those years. Frances now runs Paradise at Daleside Nurseries.
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Harrogate couple launch oxygen for India appeal
Harrogate couple Kate and Paul Banerjee have launched an appeal to buy oxygen equipment for covid patients in India with breathing difficulties.
Money raised will go to the British Asian Trust, a charity founded by the Prince Charles and British Asian business leaders in 2007 to tackle poverty and injustice in the poorest parts of Asia.
The trust is working with the Swasth Foundation in India, a non-profit healthcare provider, to source medical equipment that is in desperately short supply in the covid-hit country.
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The couple set an £8,300 fundraising target — enough to buy 10 oxygen concentrators.
Since it launched on Monday, the appeal has so far generated £4,995, which is about 60% of the target.
Ms Banerjee said:
“It all started because I know that there’s a lot of people who want to help but don’t know how to do it in a way that will get the money to the people that need it.
“We raised over £10 a minute in the first five hours — it shows the big heart that Harrogate has.”
The couple are not resting on their laurels: they plan to print leaflets and go door-to-door in the next week to raise awareness.
Ms Banerjee said:
“The fundraiser is open-ended. If we reach the target, we’ll see if we can increase it and keep moving. They haven’t reached the peak yet in India and I’m afraid things are going to get worse before they get better.”
The daily number of covid cases of covid in India approached 400,000 this week, amid widespread reports of oxygen shortages.
The oxygen concentrators which the appeal will provide extract oxygen from the air, and are therefore independent of oxygen supplies.
Messages from the heart link Ripon and RajasthanMessages of hope and encouragement have been ringing out from a Ripon retailer to craftsmen and women in Rajasthan.
Liz and Kevin Hill, who own and run clothing and gift shop Karma in Kirkgate, have remained in regular contact with tailors, jewellers and leatherworkers in the north India state, where the majority of the goods they sell are produced.
Throughout the crisis, Liz has been writing messages inside a rainbow heart in the shop window – the latest being: ‘Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.’
Liz Hill, pictured on a visit to Rajasthan with leatherworker Chandra Goyal and his wife Anu (Photograph courtesy Karma, Ripon)
Others include: ‘Follow your dreams, they know the way’ and ‘kindness is free, sprinkle it everywhere.’
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Liz, told The Stray Ferret:
“The vast majority of people have been through a hard time in recent months and we hope that the messages give those who read them a bit of a lift – from passers by, to others many miles away who see them on WhatsApp.”
Kevin, added:
“This technology has enabled us to keep in touch with the leatherworkers, jewellers and tailors in Rajasthan, who make items ranging from handbags, to earrings, rings and dresses made from up-cycled saris. They are more like an extension of our family than suppliers.”
The Hills, who opened their Kirkgate shop in 2017, became lovers of India’s culture and customs when they first visited the sub-continent more than 20 years ago.
They sell goods that are ethically sourced, made and priced and have supported their suppliers during the difficult trading period by providing cash advances ahead of the supply of items, where production and delivery was interrupted because of the pandemic.